Lucknow: Over the past eight years, the Uttar Pradesh Police have undertaken extensive operations against hardened criminals, resulting in the neutralization of 234 notorious offenders. These actions occurred during 14,741 encounters, which also led to the arrest of 30,293 criminals and injuries to 9,202.
During these operations, 18 police personnel lost their lives, and over 1,700 were injured while on duty. Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna reported that the Meerut zone recorded the highest number of encounters, with 4,183 operations leading to the arrest of 7,871 criminals.
In this zone, 2,839 criminals were injured, and 77 were killed. These operations also resulted in injuries to 452 police personnel, with two fatalities among officers. Meerut zone has thus emerged as a leading region in the state for police action against criminals.
The Varanasi zone documented 1,041 encounters, resulting in 2,009 arrests, 26 fatalities, and 605 injuries among criminals, with 96 police personnel also injured. The Agra zone ranked third, with 2,288 encounters, 5,496 arrests, 19 deaths, and 715 injuries, and 56 police personnel sustaining injuries.
Across other zones, the Lucknow zone saw 790 encounters with 15 criminals eliminated. Prayagraj reported 506 encounters leading to 10 deaths.
Bareilly zone recorded 1,962 encounters with 15 criminals killed, and Kanpur zone had 657 encounters resulting in 11 deaths. In Gorakhpur, 594 encounters led to the elimination of 8 criminals. Among police commissionerates, Lucknow led with 11 criminals eliminated in 126 encounters.
Gautam Buddha Nagar followed with 9 killings in 1,035 encounters. Varanasi and Agra commissionerates each recorded 7 eliminations (in 118 and 426 encounters respectively), Kanpur had 4 in 221, and Prayagraj saw 5 criminals killed in 126 encounters.
The state’s police have maintained a firm stance against organized crime, extortion rackets, and mafia activities, employing encounters, property seizures, and actions under relevant legal provisions. The sustained campaign against criminals over the last eight years reflects a consistent effort to enhance law and order in the state.
